Molecular Genomic laboratory at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack is now functional

Health and Family Welfare Department Secretary Pramod Mehrda on Thursday inaugurated a state-of-the-art Molecular Genomic Diagnosis and Research Laboratory in the Biochemistry Department of SCB Medical College and Hospital. The laboratory having machines worth more than Rs. 5 crore is able to detect cancer mutations even in the precancerous stage.

HPV, the main cause of cervical cancer and the highest killer in women can be also be detected at the precancerous stage along with the virus type. It will help in determining malaria, TB, a methicillin-resistant bacterial infection in ICU and detecting the drug sensitivity within a few hours.

Gene sequencing can also be done to predict by checking the DNA sequence and mutation disease susceptibility to Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Alzheimer's and depression and happiness. Al these tests were not available here and the patients had to spend lakhs of rupees and to wait for 15 to 20 days to get the report. Now all these are free and a few hours.